Should Arsenal be looking to bring in a centre-back this summer? (Pictures: Getty/PA)

Arsenal are at risk of overlooking a potential problem area this summer as they focus on revamping their attack but do little to bolster their options in defence, despite obvious problems on the horizon.

Latest reports suggest Gabriel is set to leave the Gunners for a move to Valencia, while it has already been confirmed that Per Mertesacker will be retiring at the end of the season. And even while he’s still around, he played just two matches last term due to injury.

Laurent Koscielny has also had some issues with staying fit (not to mention being prone to the odd suspension here and there), and will turn 32 next month.

Arsenal cannot rest on a future of Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding, and while summer signing Sead Kolasinac can fill in in the back three, he is better suited to a role at left wing-back, which is also true of Nacho Monreal.

If Arsene Wenger is to continue along the path of playing three centre-backs, it surely won’t be long before his lack of depth in that area is exposed. Here’s a look at five realistic candidates the club should be looking at to remedy that before the transfer deadline…

Kostas Manolas

Kostas Manolas has been linked with Arsenal in the past (Picture: Getty)

One of the top centre-backs in Serie A, Kostas Manolas’ Roma future has looked in doubt at various points this summer, with links to both Chelsea and Zenit Saint Petersburg.

Neither move, however, worked out, so could there be a chance for Arsenal to swoop in for the Greece international now in a bid to bring in a proven and experienced performer at the back?

Roma’s sale of Antonio Rudiger to Chelsea could complicate things and make them more reluctant to lose another key defensive player, but Manolas is certainly well worth considering again for the Gunners.

Kalidou Koulibaly

Kalidou Koulibaly has impressed with Napoli (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea were strongly linked last summer, and Arsenal were reported as having enquired about him earlier in this transfer window, so is there still a chance of a move for Kalidou Koulibaly?

The Senegal international has been a rock for Napoli in his time at the club, though various reports in the past have suggested he could cost £60million or more to prise away from the club.

Wenger isn’t known for spending vast sums of money on most areas of his team, let alone defence, but as an ideal long-term replacement for Koscielny and Mertesacker, Koulibaly looks worth the investment.

Arsenal 2017/18 transfers

IN

Sead Kolasinac
Alexandre Lacazette

OUT

Yaya Sanogo
Wojciech Szczesny
Chris Willock
Daniel Crowley
Glen Kamara

Jose Gimenez

Jose Gimenez is a top talent who’s been linked with Arsenal in the past (Picture: Getty)

Another former target for Arsenal and their Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United, Jose Gimenez has long been regarded as one of the best young centre-backs in the game.

The 22-year-old Uruguay international has become a vital member of Diego Simeone’s well-drilled side, and would arguably be an upgrade on any of Arsenal’s current defensive options.

Gimenez, however, is another player likely to be too expensive to be a particularly realistic target for the north Londoners for the moment, even if his arrival would represent the kind of ambition they should be showing in order to make the step up to being serious title contenders.

Inigo Martinez

Inigo Martinez has attracted some interest this summer (Picture: Getty)

Barcelona and Manchester City have been linked with Ingio Martinez this summer, and his fine form in recent seasons for Real Sociedad makes it easy to see why.

Remarkably, the 26-year-old has a £29million release clause in his contract at the moment, and would surely be an absolute bargain for Arsenal if they were to consider him.

There is little indication of that at the moment, but Wenger could do a lot worse than enter the running for a player increasingly attracting interest from top clubs around Europe.

Presnel Kimpembe

Presnel Kimpembe is a highly rated talent who could be tempted by more game time (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool have all shown an interest in Paris Saint-Germain youngster Presenel Kimpembe in the last year or so, so why not Arsenal?

The 22-year-old, who can also fill in at left-back if needed, has struggled to break past the various big names in PSG’s squad and would surely relish the chance to play more regularly elsewhere.

Arsenal could offer him that option, and would be snapping up one of French football’s most promising talents in the process, with his current status in Unai Emery’s squad surely meaning he would be perfectly affordable as well.

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